CASS COUNTY, Mich. -- Cass County District 1 Commissioner Ryan Laylin awarded Jeff Copenhafer, ELITE Companies superintendent, and Jack Whitman, ELITE Companies senior project manager, with a Cass County honor coin Monday, as a thank you for the American flag art they created using restored pieces from the Cass County Historic Courthouse.

Officials say on the first floor of the courthouse, a large American flag can be found on the wall that pays tribute not only to the U.S., but Cass County and the building itself.

The mixed-media piece looks like a typical American flag with 13 stripes and 50 stars within a wood frame, but upon deeper inspection, officials say viewers will see details within the red, white, and blue that pay homage to several eras of the county's iconic courthouse.

During the Cass County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, Dec. 19, Copenhafer, who took the lead on crafting the flag, shared his inspiration for the project, saying, “This is a token of our appreciation for letting us be the facilitators of your renovation.”

Left to right: Commissioner Ryan Laylin, Commissioner Roseann Marchetti, Jeff Copenhafer, and Jack Whitman

The white stripes on the flag were made using an old hose from a fire suppression system installed in the 1970s. “The frame itself is made from the balusters — the handrail of the old courthouse,” Copenhafer said.

ELITE Companies had a shipping container delivered to the courthouse in early 2023 dedicated to storing and preserving artifacts, materials, and furniture from building.

“It was hard not to be in awe of this building,” Whitman said. “The ELITE superintendents and I knew we had to preserve something to gift back to the residents of Cass County. … [Copenhafer’s] 25-plus years of carpentry experience drove it home to the beautiful art that now hangs on the first floor near the Veterans Affairs office.”

Officials say the125-year-old building experienced significant modernizations during the renovation and county leaders and project partners felt it was important to preserve as many aspects as possible.

Preservation efforts include three chairs from the original courtroom being restored, a restored railing and ornate sconce alongside old photos outside the Treasurer’s office, beams of exposed brick next to a new staircase, and restored original tin ceilings in the public vault in the Clerk/Register’s office.